Biology subjects

Hinse, O.

Publications and source records attributed to Hinse, O..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Cathepsin K Mediates the Formation of Potential Rheumatoid Arthritis-Relevant Cis- and Trans-Spliced Peptides Compatible With HLA-DR4 Presentation

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a loss of immunological tolerance to synovial self-proteins, yet the initial triggers generating novel neo-antigens remain incompletely defined. Here, we demonstrate that human cathepsin K (hCatK), a key cysteine protease driving joint degradation in RA, catalyzes covalent cis- and trans-splicing of peptides from major RA-associated self-proteins and foreign antigens, including type II collagen, fibrinogen, and SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Using high-resolution LC-MS/MS and database-assisted de novo sequencing, we identified over 90 unique spliced peptides. Splicing efficiency peaked at near-neutral pH (6.5-7.5), contrasting with classic hydrolytic profiles. Biochemical profiling revealed strong subsite selectivity, with a striking enrichment for small, aliphatic and/or hydroxyl-containing residues (Gly, Thr, Ser) at the P1 position. Furthermore, splicing preferentially targeted flexible, intrinsically disordered protein regions, with 81% of fibrinogen splicing events clustering within its C domain. In silico binding predictions for the RA-susceptibility allele HLA-DRB1*04:01 harboring the shared epitope revealed that numerous hCatK-generated spliced peptides exhibit predicted affinities exceeding those of established immunogenic and genomic sequences, uncovering protease-mediated transpeptidation as a novel post-translational modification capable of generating potent MHC class II autoantigens in RA.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Cathepsin K as a Key SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Protease and Dual-Inhibition Target

SARS-CoV-2 relies on host proteases to prime its spike protein for cell entry through either the endosomal or plasma membrane pathway. Although cysteine cathepsins are known to mediate the endosomal route, the identity of the dominant enzyme has remained unclear. Here, we identify human Cathepsin K (hCatK), a lysosomal cysteine protease, as a previously unrecognized yet functionally important mediator of spike activation. While human Cathepsin L (hCatL) has long been regarded as the principal endosomal protease for spike processing, inhibition of hCatK with the selective inhibitor Odanacatib suppressed viral infection in endothelial cells as effectively as the broad-spectrum cysteine protease inhibitor E-64d, implicating hCatK as a key driver of spike processing during the endosomal viral entry. Comprehensive enzymatic profiling demonstrated that hCatK exhibits 24- to 63-fold higher catalytic efficiency toward the Furin-cleavage site (FCS) sequence than hCatL and displays a distinct substrate-recognition pattern at the Omicron FCS relative to the Wuhan variant. We further demonstrate that hCatK is an off-target of Nirmatrelvir, a clinically approved 3CL-Mpro inhibitor, with a sub-micromolar potency (IC50 = 0.6 {+/-} 0.1 {micro}M). A 1.9 [A] crystal structure of the hCatK-Nirmatrelvir complex delineates the molecular basis of inhibitor binding and supports the rational design of dual-acting antivirals. Collectively, these findings redefine the landscape of host proteases involved in SARS-CoV-2 spike activation and establish hCatK as a previously overlooked but strategic target for antiviral intervention.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Beyond Degradation: How Reverse Proteolysis Creates Disease-Relevant Antigens

Proteases are conventionally regarded as degradative enzymes, yet their catalytic machinery also permits peptide bond formation through reverse proteolysis, a process that remains poorly characterized. Here, we show that lysosomal cysteine cathepsins catalyze iterative cycles of hydrolysis and ligation to generate multi-generational fusion peptides, including hybrids derived from host-viral protein substrates. Quantitative analysis demonstrates that peptide ligation can account for up to 4.5% of proteolytic turnover. This activity is strongly influenced by pH, substrate sequence, and post-translational modification, with citrullination and neutral pH favoring fusion peptide formation and the accumulation of more stable higher-order products. Using full-length protein substrates, we provide direct evidence that cathepsins can generate a hybrid insulin peptide previously identified as a Type 1 Diabetes (TID) autoantigen in patients. Moreover, several identified fusion peptides show effective binding to TID-associated HLA class II molecules. To examine whether ligation products can be captured under cellular conditions, we developed a click-based targeted transpeptide retrieval and purification strategy (CT-TRAP), which enabled detection of probe-derived cis/transpeptides in cell-based systems under controlled conditions. These findings establish reverse proteolysis by cysteine cathepsins as a quantifiable enzymatic pathway for generating non-genomically templated peptides, revealing an unrecognized dimension of lysosomal protease activity and peptide diversification.

biochemistry↗